Novelty Press
Comic books | |
|---|---|
| Fiction genres | Superhero, Crime |
Novelty Press (a.k.a. Premium Service Co., Inc.; a.k.a. Novelty Publications; a.k.a. Premier Group) was an American
Target Comics
.
During its nine-year run, Novelty had a roster of creators that included
Although published in Philadelphia, Novelty Press's editorial offices were in New York City.
History
Novelty Press launched its first title, Target Comics, debuted with a cover date of February 1940, followed shortly thereafter by Blue Bolt.[2]
Target Comics featured such stars as
Spacehawk (which originated in Circus comics) made its Target Comics debut with issue #5, and ran for many issues. The superhero Target, created by cartoonist Dick Briefer under the pen nam "Dick Hamilton", was introduced in issue #10 (Nov. 1940), accompanied by the Targeteers the following issue.[2] The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide suggests that the first comic book letter column may have appeared in Target Comics #6. The page in question also has an early mention of comic-book collecting.)[3]
Blue Bolt's title character superhero was created by Joe Simon, and Blue Bolt #2 (July 1940) featured the first pairing of the longstanding and pioneering creative team of Simon and Jack Kirby.[2]
All American's Comic Cavalcade.[2]
Young King Cole, debuting in 1945, was an anthology title headlined by one of the comic genre's first private detectives.[4]
In 1949, due to the growing
]Titles
- 4 Most (36 issues, 1941–1949) — Regular features included Cadet, Dan'l Flannel, Edison Bell, and Lem the Grem, the "Trouble-Loving Gremlin".[6]
- Blue Bolt (110 issues, 1940–1951) — Tom Gill, and Mickey Spillane[7] Malcolm Kildale's Sgt. Spook, an undead detective, was a regular backup feature for most of its run.[8] Blue Bolt ran for 110 issues, the first 102 published by Novelty Press, and the rest published by Star Publications.
- Dick Cole, The Wonder Boy (10 issues, 1948-1949) — A popular backup feature in Blue Bolt (and later 4 Most), "Dick Cole" was spun off into its own title from 1948 to 1950 (the first five issues published by Novelty Press, the rest by Star Publications). Dick Cole was created by cartoonist Bob Davis but others who handled the character include Al Fagaly (Super Duck), James Wilcox (Dolly O'Dare), and Jack Hearne (The Cadet).[6]
- Frisky Fables — 37 issues, 1945–49
- Guns Against Gangsters — 7 issues, 1948–1949
- Humdinger — 8 issues, 1946–1947
- Target Comics (105 issues, 1940–1949)
- Young King Cole (title later changed to Criminals on the Run) (23 issues, 1945-1948) — Regular backup features included Doctor Doom, "The Resourceful Professor of Criminology"; Foxy, "Office Boy in the Detective Bureau"; Homer K. Beagle, "The Demon Detective"; Larry Broderick, "City Detective"; and Tony Gayle, "Glamorous Detective Model".[9]
Regular backup features
- Bull's-Eye Bill (Target Comics)
- Cadet (4 Most)
- Dan'l Flannel (4 Most)
- Dick Cole, The Wonder Boy(4 Most and Blue Bolt)
- Doctor Doom (Young King Cole)
- Edison Bell (4 Most)
- Foxy (Young King Cole)
- Homer K. Beagle (Young King Cole)
- Larry Broderick (Young King Cole)
- Lem the Grem (4 Most)
- Lucky Byrd (Target Comics)
- Sgt. Spook (Blue Bolt)
- Target and the Targeteers (4 Most and Target Comics)
- Tony Gayle (Young King Cole)
- The White Streak (Target Comics)
References
- ^ a b Markstein, Don. "Target & the Targeteers at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Novelty Press at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Overstreet, Robert M. Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, vol. 33. House of Collectibles, 2003.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Young King Cole" at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Blue Bolt," Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ a b Markstein, Don. "Dick Cole, The Boy Wonder" at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Novelty Press at the Michigan State University Libraries: Index to the Comic Art Collection. Retrieved July 12, 2008. WebCitation archive.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Sgt. Spook" at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Kevin Burton. "Young King Cole". ThrillingDetective.com. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
External links
- Novelty Press at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Coville, Jamie, "Newsstand Period 1922 - 1955," TheComicsBooks.com.
- High-resolution jpeg of Blue Bolt #2 in its entirety